As the holiday season shifts into high gear, a beloved local tradition is once again taking root in Essex County. Bastien Tree Farm, a family-run operation in Essex, Ontario, is bustling with activity as it prepares to welcome families searching for the perfect centerpiece for their Christmas celebrations.
The Heart of a Holiday Tradition
For owner Ovid Bastien and his team, the weeks leading up to Christmas represent the culmination of a year's worth of careful cultivation. The farm, which has been a staple in the community for years, enters its peak operational period in early December. This time of year transforms the quiet fields into a festive destination where the scent of fresh pine fills the air and the sound of families making memories echoes among the rows of trees.
The demand for real Christmas trees remains a strong tradition for many Canadian households, and farms like Bastien's are the epicenters of this annual ritual. The process involves far more than just the final harvest; it requires year-round attention to soil health, pruning, and pest management to ensure each tree reaches its full, lush potential.
More Than Just Trees: An Experience
Visiting a choose-and-cut tree farm is often a multi-generational experience. Parents who came as children now bring their own kids, creating a continuous thread of family tradition. The farm provides the tools and assistance, but the act of selecting and cutting down the tree is a hands-on, participatory event that many urban and suburban families cherish.
Ovid Bastien notes that while the busiest days are typically on weekends, the farm sees a steady stream of visitors throughout the week as well. The appeal lies in the freshness and quality of a locally grown tree, as well as the support for a local business and the sustainable cycle of farming—for every tree cut, several more are planted for future seasons.
Gearing Up for the Seasonal Surge
Preparing for this short but intense window of business requires significant logistical planning. Staffing levels increase, equipment is checked and prepared, and the farm layout is organized to handle vehicle traffic and provide a safe, enjoyable experience for all ages. The farm often becomes a community hub, with hot beverages on offer and the shared spirit of the season palpable among visitors.
For the Bastien Tree Farm and others like it across Canada, this period is critical to their annual viability. The revenue generated during the Christmas tree season supports the business and its employees throughout the rest of the year. It's a model that blends agriculture with agri-tourism, connecting people directly to the source of a beloved holiday symbol.
As families across Windsor-Essex and beyond mark their calendars for their annual tree-hunting trip, operations like Bastien Tree Farm stand ready, ensuring that the timeless tradition of bringing a real, fragrant evergreen into the home continues to thrive for another year.
